Spring-bolster bearing for car-trucks.



J. A. TURNER.

SPRING BOLSTER BEARING FOR CAR TRUCKS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 20. 1914.

1 9 14 l ,436 a a Patented June 1, 1915.

q'vifnemm a, JOHN A. TURNER, OF MOBILE, ALABAMA.

Applicatz' on filedflctober 20, 1914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that E, JOHN A. TURNER, a

,citizen of the United States, residing at Moings for Car-Trucks, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the general subject of car trucks and hasparticular reference to a novel spring bolster bearing that is speciallydesigned to give greater flexibility to the truck frames.

' It is a well known fact that car trucks of the rigid type, or trucks.whose opposite framemembers are rigidly connected are subjected to manysevere and damaging strains owing to uneven portions in the tracks, lowjoints, and also the shock of coupling heavily loaded cars. That is tosay, trucks of this type are subjected to many severe and unnecessaryshocks. and strains which quickly wear them out or weaken their vitalparts so that constant repair and attention is necessary. F urthermore,it requires more tractive force or motive power to move cars especiallywhen loaded to capacity, when the trucks do not yield or give to acertain extent to the varying conditions of hauling and track. Variousso called flexible truck constructions have been devised to overcomethese dil'liculties, but in practice, many of them fall short of theirpurpose for the reason. that the movement 01' play provided between thebolsters and side truck frames, which renders the truck capable ofaccommodating itself to varying track conditions, is either notpositively provided for, or else the construction is such that there canbe no rocking or rolling at the bearings of the bolster in the sideframes. This-particular rocking or rolling movement is the mostdesirable and effectual motion for this purpose, as will be more fullyapparent as the nature of the present construction is better understood,and cannot ordinarily be accomplished without departing from theconventional design of standard truck f'rames such as the wellAccordingly, the present invention con templates as its principal objectthe provision of a spring bolster bearing which includes a plurality ofopposing and interlocking concave and convex bearing surfacesonSpecification of Letters Patent. 7

SPRING-BOLSTER BEARING FOR CAR-TRUCKS.

Patented June it, 1915.

Serial No. 867,635.

the spring bolster and truck frames, and which bearingsurfaces'represent the arcs of circles of different radii, to produce atrue rocking or rolling motion between the ends of the spring bolsterand the truck frames;

A further object of the invention is to pro vide a bolster of thischaracter that will automatically center itself when the trucks aretraveling over level track, and which will also shift the center ofgravity to either side of the center line of the fruck frames accordingto Whether the leading or follb'wing wheels of the truck are in adepressed portion of the track, thereby relieving the wheels, ournals,and other parts of the truck' of undue strains and rupturing stresseswhen the car is traveling with a capacity load. This feature involvesanother valuable aspect inasmuch as it reduces the wear and frictionbetween the movable parts and makes lubrication thereof entirelyunnecessary, as the parts do not slide at any point, but merely rock orroll without grinding or impinging on the contacting bearing surfaces.

Another object of the invention is to provide a durable and practicalbolster construction which materially increases the elliciency of thetruck, and includes a minimum number of parts which require very littlemachining after they come from the mold, thereby facilitating theassembling and manufacture of'the truck and at the same time savingmanual labor and cost of manufacture.

A further object of the invention is to provide an interlocking bolsterand truck frame bearing which will not only have a self centerinfunction as above pointed out and permit the ends of the truck frames tofreely move in a vertical plane, but will also prevent the truck framesfrom spreading by no other means than the curved interlocking bearingsurfaces. This interlock also fulfils the purpose of keeping theopposite truck frames parallel and insures a safe and re-, liableconnection which freely yields to all service conditions.

As a general object including all of the other special objects, theinvention provides a device permitting of a true rocking or rollingmotion between the ends of the spring bolster and the truck frames,because of the curved bearing surfaces of dilferent radii,

thus distinguishing from those devices wherein the bearing parts eitherin the form plete and close contact so that they have a sliding andgrinding action rather than the true rocking or rolling efl'ect soughtto be accomplished by the present invention.

With the above and other objects in view which will more readily appearas the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consistsin the novel construction, combination and arrangement of partshereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

A preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is disclosed inthe accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of one ofthe side frames of a truck showing my improved spring bolster bearingapplied thereto. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View on the line 22 ofFig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view showing in elevation thespring bolster bearing block in its bearing seat in the truck frame.Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the spring bolster bearingblock partly in section. Fig. 5 is a detail end elevation of the springbolster bearing block.

- Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts in theseveral figures of the drawings.

In carrying out the present invention, it is proposed to use the same inconnection with standard truck frames as far as possible, and in thisconnection it will be observed from Fig. 1 of'the drawings, that thereference numeral 1 designates in its entirety one of the side frames ofa cast steel side frame truck T. The only difference between the truckframe used in connection with the present invention and that ordinarilyused of the general type shown in the drawing, is to be found in thespring bolster bearing seat. It is obvious that the addition of thiselement only necessitates a slight and inexpensive change in the patternof the truck to adapt it to the present invention.

\Vith particular reference to the specific details of constructiondisclosed in the drawings, it will be observed that the truck frame 1includes the usual pedestals 2 which slidably receive the usual truckbolster 3. In connection with the mounting of the latter in the truckframes, it will be noted that the walls 4 of the guides at each side ofthe truck bolster are slightly rounded at their upper lower corners asat 5 was to permit the bolster to have a relative rocking effect 7within the truck frame which may be necessary under extreme workingconditions,

though the major part of the rock takes 6 'place in the bolsterhereinafter referred to as the spring bolster. The said truck bolster 3is supported on a.plurality of helical springs 6, the lower ends ofwhich bear upon the transverse spring bolster 7 that is preferably madeof channeled metal as shown in the drawings to increase its strength andrigidity. Suitably secured to the end of the spring bolster 7 directlybeneath the helical springs 6 is a bolster rocker-block 8 designed tointerlock with and bear against a rocker bearing'seat 9 in the truckframe. The said rocker-block 8 is preferably made in a single castingand secured to the spring bolster 7, though of course it will beunderstood that if found expedient, this bearing block may be cast,pressed or forged integral with the spring bolster and the sameeffective results obtained. By reference to Fig. 5, it will be apparentthat this block 8 includes the opposite side bolting flanges 10, and aconvex center-bearing portion 11 having on each side thereof the rockerribs 12 and 13 having the concaved bearing edges 14 and 15 respectively.The extreme ends of the rocker ribs 12 and 13 thus project downwardly toform locking flanges 16 and 17 The rocker block 8 carried by the springbolster, and as above described is designed to have a rolling bearing inthe rocker seat 9 which essentially comprises a plurality of bearingunits in the form of a concaved center bearing element 18 whose bearingsurface 19 represents an arc of greater radius than the convexcenter-bearing of the block 8 which it receives, and the convexed framebeads 2021 of the truck frame upon which rest the concaved edges 14and.15 of the rocker ribs 12 and 13. This arrangement produces acontinuous bearing directly at the center of this structure as will beobserved from Fig. 2. That'is to say, the

crown 11 of the convex center-bearing 11 of the block 8-rests upon themiddle portion of the concave bearing surface 19 of the element 18 andat the same time the intermediate portions of the concave edges 14 and15 of the rocker ribs 12 and 13 have a rocking contact with the .crownof the convexed beads or bearing units 20 and 21.

An important feature of all of the rocker bearing units is that theyrepresent curves or arcs of different radii from the radii of thecomplemental bearing portions of the rocker-block. In other words, itwill be noted from the several figures of the drawings that the concavehearing face 19 of the rocker bearing seat 9 is of greater diameter thanthe convexed center bearing 11 of the block 8. Likewise, the concaveedges 14 and 15 of the ribs 12 and 13 represent curves of differentradii from the bearing units 20 and 21, thus producing a constructionwhich is capable of a rocking or rolling motion and "the center ofgravity also locates itself at this point. However, if the leadingwheel, for instance, should drop into a track depression or low joint,the center of gravity would be shifted to the rear, or in other wordsthebearing points of contact of the block 8' and rocker seat 9 would betransferred to one side of the line 22 thereby I evenly distributing thesuperposed weight on both wheels instead of transferring it solely tothe following'wheel as would be thecase with a rigid truck construction.When the front or leading wheel runs out of the depression or low jointthecenter of gravity will be shifted forward of the center of the sideframe relieving the strain on the rear wheel.

The rocking of the various opposing curved surfaces always tends to.return the block 8 to its normal position. That is, the effect of thesecounteracting curved surfaces is to automatically maintain the center ofgravity at the center line of the truck, but they of course readilypermit the shifting of this 'pointto relieve the strain and shocksincident to traffic conditions. The degree of 'motion between theseparts is necessarily susceptible. of wide variation to meet all serviceconditions and types of trucks, and to accomplish this result it is onlynecessary to change the relative radii of the opposing bearing surfaceson the bolster and frames.

In assembling the truck parts. it is only necessary to drop the springbolster 7 on to the side frames 1 in such a manner that the blocks 8rest in the rocker seats 9. When in this relation the flanges. 16 and 17of the rocker ribs straddle the bearing element 18 and thus effectuallyprevent any tendency of the spring bolster 7 to twist or turn out oftransverse alinement and at the same time maintain a lock between theopposite truck frames which not only prevents them from spreading apartbut keeps them parallel.

In view of the detailed description of the.

several parts of the invention it will be obvious that a distinctrocking or rolling motionis provided between the spring bolster and thetruck frames, as distinguished from a sliding or turning motion in somecases utilized to give a yielding tendency to truck frames in a verticalplane This effect can only be obtained through the use of curved bearingsurfaces that represent parts of circles of different diameters. Inother words, the present invention is entirely foreign to anyconstruction which involves bearing surfaces that are in continuouscontact throughout their hearing and which instead of a rocking .orrolling motion involve a rotary or reciproeating action which it isdesirable to eliminate. Where sliding surfaces are relied upon itoftenhappens that they stick under the tremendous superposed weight andserious breakages or ruptures result, hence by doing away with them andproviding a construction which cannot possibly be open to theseobjections, the efficiency of the truck is greatly enhanced. The framebeads 20--21 are also of special practical importance in thatthis typeof construction will greatly strengthen the truck frame -as comparedwith the usual horizontal design of bottom bearing on a truck frame. Thebead 20 provides a strengthening arch which in turn is reinforced by thecurved element 19.

From the foregoing it is'thought that the many features and advantagesof the invention will be readily apparent, and it will of course beunderstood that various changes and minor details of construction mayberesorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or scopeof the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A spring bolster bearing for car trucks vided with a plurality ofcurved rolling sur- I faces representing arcs of different radii andrespectively engaging the separate bearing units. i

3. A spring bolster bearing for car trucks including the truck sideframe provided with a stationary curved rocker bearing-seat havingaplurality of curved bearing units, and the spring bolster having arocker-block provided w'ith a plurality of curved rolling sur facesrespectively engaging the separate bearing units, said rolling surfacesof the rocker-block representing arcs of different radii from those ofthe said units.

4. Aspring bolster bearing for car trucks including the truck side frameprovided with a stationary curved rocker bearingseat having a pluralityof curved bearing units reversely related to one another, and

a spring bolster carrying a rocker-block having a plurality of curvedrolling surfaces also reversely related to one another and respectivelyengaging the separate bearing units of the bearing-seat.

5. A spring bolster for car trucks including the truck side frameprovided with a stationary curved rocker bearing-seat having a pluralityof curved bearing units reversely related to one another, and a spring,

bolster carrying a rocker-block having a plurality of curved rollinsurfaces representing arcs of different radii from those of the saidunits, said curved rolling surfaces also reversely related andrespectively engaging the separate bearing units of the bearing-' seat.I

6. A spring bolster bearing for car trucks including the truck sideframe provided with a stationary curved rocker bearingseat, and a springbolster carrying a rockerblock provided with a curvedrolling surfacehaving an interlocking engagement with said bearingseat,and representingan arc of different radius from that of the bearing seat. 1

7. A spring bolster bearing for car trucks including the truck sideframe provided with a stationary curved rocker bearing-seat having aplurality of curved bearing units, and the springbolster having arocker-block provided with a plurality of curved rolling surfacesrepresenting arcs of different radii and respectively engaging theseparate hearing units, and also having locking flanges respe'ctivelybearing upon and engaging with the separate bearing units.

8. A spring bolster bearing for car trucks including the truck sideframe provided with a stationary curved rocker bearingseat, said seatcomprising a central bearing element having a concaved bearing surfaceblock provided with a convexed center beart ing and opposite rocker ribshaving con- 45 caved bearing edges for contacting with complementalparts of the bearing seat, the bearing surface of said center bearin androckerribs representing arcs of di erent radii from the complementalparts of the bearing seat.

'andconvexed frame ribs'on each side thereblock provided with a convexedcenter bearing representing an arc of lesser diameter than the concavedsurface of the bearing seat and adapted to bear thereon, saidrockerblock also provided with rocker ribs having concaved bearing edgeswhich represent arcs of'greater diameter than the frame ribs upon whichthey rock.

11. A car truck construction including a truck side frame provided withan archedmember,-a supporting and reinforcing bead thereover, and thespring bolster having a hearing seat on said arched member.

' 12. A spring bolster bearing for car-trucks including the truck sideframe provided with a stationary curved rocker bearingseat, said seatcomprising a central concaved bearing portion and opposite convexedframe ribs, and a spring bolster carrying a rocker block provided with aconvexed center bearing and opposite rocker ribs having concaved bearingedges, and also having'end flanges for straddling the central bearingelement of the bearing seat.

13. A spring bolster bearing for car trucks including the truck sideframe provided with a stationary curved bearing-seat comprising aplurality of reversely arranged bearing units, and a spring bolstercarrying a rocker block having a plurality of reversely arranged bearingsurfaces for contacting Withcomplemental portions of the bearing seat,said complemental bearing portions representing arcs of different radiito maintain a solid contact transversely of the hearing as the center ofgravity shifts.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence oftWo witnesses.

JOHN A. TURNER.

Witnesses H. G. SAcKHorF, GEoLO. BANCROET.

